After the loss of a child, you may not have the bandwidth to read a dense book. Anne McCracken’s A Broken Heart Still Beats is an easy-to-digest compilation of poetry, fiction, and essays, each written by a parent who has lost a child. These pieces of will touch your broken heart and remind you that your broken, or shattered, heart still beats.
When author Gail Griffith’s teenage son attempted suicide, their entire family’s lives were forever changed. Rather than thinking about life’s trivial conundrums, Gail was thrown into a life-or-death race to save her son’s life by getting him the right help. For any parent navigating a child with suicidal ideations, this resource is a source of hope and comfort to accompany your treatment journey.
Author Christopher Lukas has experienced loss to suicide in his family several times over, and in his book Silent Grief he shares the many facets that are involved with a disenfranchised loss like suicide. Personal stories from others who have lost a loved one to suicide are paired with expert guidance from psychologist Henry Seiden as the reader learns ways to overcome the feelings of shame, confusion, and guilt that can accompany a suicide loss.
A leader in the field and someone that the team at Olivia’s House has studied under, Kay Redfield Jamison penned Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide from the perspective of a scientist who has dealt with lifelong mental illness. By combining a historical, scientific, and personal perspective on the matter, Jamison can help readers understand some of the history of the epidemic of suicide.
When Iris Bolton’s son died by suicide, she began a journey of healing that encapsulated the full spectrum of life, death, and how all things are connected in this world. My Son, My Son is a personal story of the tragedy her family experienced, as well as the questioning and healing that came in the aftermath of her loss. This is one of our favorite resources, and Olivia’s House has professional connections with both author Iris Bolton and her colleague, Atlanta-based suicide specialist, Elaine Alpert!
As the premiere resource on sibling survivors of suicide, Michelle Linn-Gust’s book Do They Have Bad Days in Heaven? is a look into the aftermath of the author’s younger sister to suicide. Providing the unique perspective of how this grief affects members of the family differently, Gust also discusses growing up in a bereaved household, how she relates to her living siblings, and how her life has changed in the years since the loss.
In the summer of 1985, William Styron (acclaimed author of Sophie’s Choice) became numbed by disaffection, apathy, and despair, unable to speak or walk while caught in the grip of advanced depression. His struggle with the disease culminated in a wave of obsession that nearly drove him to suicide, leading him to seek hospitalization before the dark tide engulfed him. Darkness Visible tells the story of Styron’s recovery, laying bare the harrowing realities of clinical depression and chronicling his triumph over the disease that had claimed so many great writers before him. His final words are a call for hope to all who suffer from mental illness that it is possible to emerge from even the deepest abyss of despair and “once again behold the stars.”
The Healing Consciousness by Beth Dupree is one of Program Director Julia Dunn’s favorite books in our library! Beth, a Pennsylvania native, is a skilled surgeon who, through her own experiences with loss, learns that curing disease and healing dis-ease are two very different things. Through her journey across her life and across the world, join Beth as she discovers the healing powers within.
Communication is key! Whether we are talking about a partner, a child, a parent, or a friend, expressing ourselves honestly and openly is important, but can be difficult! Harriet Lerner’s “The Dance of Connection” shows readers the best ways to connect on a deep and meaningful level while maintaining assertiveness.
Lifeshocks and How to Love them by Sophie Sabbage is a game changer! When we experience a “lifeshock,” or something that rocks us to our core, how do we proceed? Sophie explores how these moments in our life demand our attention and require a shift. As we are all experiencing a collective lifeshock, this is an excellent read to give you hope and a sense of control over your future!